"This is an important step for our youth who have an important role to play in instituting social and behavioral change among their peers to work with our officers and understand the role of our officers," said Mayor Joe Curtatone.

Called STEPS, for Students and Teachers Engage Public Safety, seven officers will participate in the pilot program. Those officers volunteered without reservation, according to Police Chief David Fallon.

The move signals a return to familiar territory for Officer Yvon Jean-Jacques, who grew up in the Mystic and Clarendon Hill housing projects.

"Starting with the sixth graders would build a positive aspect in making our lives easier and their lives easier on a daily basis," said Jean-Jacques.

He also recalled growing up around many of the police officers who would eventually train him when he joined the force eight years ago.

"We saw you, you never talked to anybody," he recalled them telling him during his first few days. "There was never a need to talk to the police. I was never in trouble like that."

As he imparts his experience to the students, he hopes to learn from their routines as well.

"It's pretty life changing, and pretty gratifying,” he said.

Police officials plan to add five more officers to the program each year, eventually including as much as one-third of the rank-and-file.